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Date: 12/8/2021
AMHERST – The Town Council met on Nov. 29 to discuss a series of zoning changes, including a controversial one that could allow for a second downtown parking garage to be built by a private developer.
The first readings of these zoning changes were discussed during the meeting despite a multitude of public comments being focused on postponing this process. Many residents expressed the opinion that there was no need for a rush to make these changes with new town council members coming in January.
Many of the public comments criticized the council for attempting to make zoning changes following an election.
“As far as we can see, the issues are issues that are dear to councilors that weren’t reelected,” said resident Barbara Pearson. She added that the council was participating in “shenanigans” to avoid having a representative government process.
Harry Peltz of District 3 brought up concerns about the council rushing without thoroughly investigating other potential sites for the project.
Janet McGowan, a Planning Board member, asked the council to refrain from the four zoning amendments until the Planning Board could look into the reports on the proposed changes more in depth. McGowan said that due to the Holiday timing and when they initially received the proposed changes that it was not the right time to be starting this next step with the Town Council as it was their assumption the council had yet to receive reports.
“It’s a statutory task for us to send the Planning Board report to Town Council,” McGowan said.
Suzannah Muspratt also claimed the council was circumventing normal procedures with this council's term coming to a close. This was seconded by resident Priscilla White who felt the rush on zoning articles and the lack of process of needed edits and reviews of issues on the amendments was concerning.
Resident Jay Silverstein added that he felt residents are being “hoodwinked” by the Town Council.
Council President Lynn Griesemer made clear to those in virtual attendance of the meeting that when voters adopted the new town charter in 2018, they wanted to avoid lame duck scenarios with elected officials and have a full-time year-round government. According to her, this is why the council feels they have an obligation to go through each zoning change and not wait for the new council.
The focus of complaints on the zoning from the public was honed in on the proposed overlay district for constructing a parking garage on the parking lot next to the CVS Pharmacy lot between North Pleasant and North Prospect streets. The parking facility overlay district would only set specific guidelines for a garage to be constructed.
The rezoning, sponsored by District 3 Councilor George Ryan and District 4 Councilor Evan Ross - both of whom will see their terms end next month after losing re-election bids – was brought forth by the two councilors as a project for the Destination Amherst plan in coordination with the Amherst Business Improvement District (Amherst BID) and Amherst Area Chambber of Commerce.
While it is true the councilors lost their reelection bids, Griesemer showed support for the objection from critics by saying that with such a thin margin of defeat for the two the argument of what the town supports may not be as cut and dry as it was being made out from opponents of the council discussing new zoning changes. Both Councilors Ross and Ryan were 50 combined votes from winning a second term, including a recount for Ross in the District 4 race.
Other zoning changes under discussion are focused on extending outdoor dining and other pandemic related initiatives through 2022, lowering the threshold in mixed-use buildings to 30 percent, and specific parking requirements for all residences.
Senior Planner Nathaniel Malloy said that a 270-space garage could fit on the site and be like the one in downtown Greenfield with the parking rezoning.
At Large Councilor Andy Steinberg offered some advice during the conversation suggesting that because rezoning is only about making it possible to use the discussed site for a garage, it would be the responsibility of a future council to examine other sites for a garage.
District 4 Councilor Steve Schreiber supported the garage saying a well-designed parking garage could be nicer than the aging paved lot.
District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam was adamant when she said to her fellow council members that she would never accept a parking garage built across from 19th-century homes and felt this was a flawed process.
“There’s no way you can make a parking structure compatible with a historic district. It’s ruinous to the adjoining residential neighborhood,” Pam said.
District 1 Councilor Sarah Swartz showed understanding for many of the concerns addressed by the public, saying that councilors must listen to neighbors, and that moving to put parking near homes is a hypocritical move after councilors voted to eliminate parking in front of Town Hall as part of the restoration of the North Common.
There was some support of the zoning changes within the echoed concerns of many residents during public comment. Sharon Povinelli, a North Amherst resident who co-owns A.J. Hastings, called on councilors to act and explained that businesses need destination parking.
Amherst BID Executive Gabrielle Gould said the rezoning is about looking ahead in the future and that more parking could lead to success for restaurants, performing arts venues, the expanded Jones Library and other downtown businesses.
At Large Councilor Alisa Brewer did bring up to her fellow members on the council that there would be a question that is lingering over the current discussion. Brewer was curious if the Boltwood parking garage could easily have additional stories of parking. There is an understanding that the garage was built in a manner that could accommodate an expansion due to the surface and basement levels of the Boltwood garage. Planning Director Christine Brestrup said the town would likely have to hire a structural engineer to determine if adding floors to the existing garage was possible.
This topic was to be brought back up at the Dec. 6 Town Council meeting and the State of the Town Address will also take place the same night. Reminder Publishing will have coverage of that meeting in its Dec. 16 edition.